San Antonio Big Rig Crash Leaves One Dead
A San Antonio big rig crash early Wednesday morning has left one person dead. The crash happened around 3:45 am Wednesday morning at the interchange of Loop 410 and I-10.
According to San Antonio Express News, the crash may have been caused after a FedEx driver crashed his 18-wheeler into a support column on westbound Loop 410 under the Interstate 10 overpass.
The FedEx driver was reportedly killed at the scene of the accident after the truck burst into flames. According to the San Antonio Fire Department, the truck was fully engulfed in flames and the driver was dead by the time crews arrived on scene. “He was completely burned,” said Sargent Andrew Ling of the San Antonio Police Department.
According to KENS 5 TV, firefighters stated that the smoke coming from the FedEx truck was so black and heavy it created very limited visibility on the I-10 overpass. Loop 410 was closed as a result of the accident and officers initially believed it would take at least two hours for crews to clear the wreckage and reopen the highway. Some reports have stated that I-10 was closed for a short time and that the massive fire did damage the I-10 overpass. KENS 5 TV stated that police did finally reopen the freeway around 11:30 am.
The driver of the FedEx truck has since been identified as 39-year-old Brandon Joseph Biagas. Police are still working to find the cause of the accident, though witnesses have said that the driver was swerving between lanes just before the accident occurred. Another report by San Antonio Express News stated the following:
“A witness told police the truck had been drifting between lanes for several miles. The witness said there were no other vehicles near the truck when it drifted off the roadway and hit the guardrail and column.”
Ling told reporters that it is still unknown why Biagas lost control of his 18-wheeler. Based on what witnesses have stated, Ling believes that Biagas may have fallen asleep behind the wheel. Those investigating the accident have noted that no other vehicles were involved in the accident.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are extended to the family and friends of the driver involved in today’s accident,” David Westrick, a spokesman for FedEx, said in a statement. “We are cooperating fully with local authorities investigating the incident.”
The San Antonio Police Department, San Antonio Fire Department and a FedEx ground manager were all called to the scene of the accident. The investigation is still ongoing.
